UPDATE: NRL great Andrew Johns and former jockey Allan Robinson have finally agreed to appear before Racing NSW stewards to answer questions about the controversial More Joyous affair.

Johns and Robinson were no-shows at yesterday's explosive inquiry as stewards investigated owner John Singleton's allegations that he had been informed More Joyous had problems and could not win the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 27.

More Joyous opened as favourite, eased on track and then ran one of the worst races of her career to finish a well beaten seventh behind All Too Hard.

The evidence of Johns and Robinson is seen as crucial as stewards continue their investigations into what bookie Tom Waterhouse is alleged to have said about More Joyous prior to the race.

Sydney brothel owner Eddie Hayson also refused to attend the stewards inquiry as requested yesterday and has not yet given any indication whether he has had a change of heart.

In a dramatic day at the inquiry yesterday, Gai Waterhouse branded her lifelong friend Singleton "old", "a drunk" and "an absolute sham" as their rift exploded spectacularly.

Waterhouse said Singleton should not have relied on information from unreliable sources: "The people involved are a trumped-up jockey, a brothel owner and a footballer, and that's what's got us sitting here today.

"It's an absolute disgrace - you're an absolute sham, John, you really are. They are the people who are discrediting my son, husband and me and they won't show their faces."

Racing NSW stewards learnt bookmaker Tom Waterhouse had a brief conversation about More Joyous with Johns on Anzac Day when the pair were working as part of Channel 9's NRL coverage.

The following day Johns attended a Friday night NRL game where he allegedly told a number of people, including Mr Hayson, that More Joyous could not win the All Aged Stakes.

More Joyous opened as favourite, drifted in betting and finished seventh. Owner Singleton said in a private meeting Johns admitted he had been drinking the night before the All Aged Stakes and may have been "big-noting".

"The first I ever heard of it was when John Singleton had three beers and told everyone on live TV that More Joyous has problems and Gai's son is telling everyone. That was five minutes before the race," Tom Waterhouse said.

Murrihy asked Gai Waterhouse if she had relayed any information about the condition of the horse to her son.

"I'll happily swear on a Bible, the first time I made contact with my son was after the race when Mr Singleton screamed abuse at me," she said.

Mr Singleton told stewards he had not been aware there was any problem with More Joyous until race day.

He accepted the advice of his racing manager, Duncan Grimley, and veterinarian Dr John Peatfield that his champion mare was fit to run but heeded Mr Grimley's advice "not to bet".

Then Mr Singleton told stewards he received a phone call from Allan Robinson with some information about the condition of More Joyous and rang Johns to clarify.

"I had massive concerns when I heard Allan Robinson and Andrew Johns passed on information which Duncan Grimley said was a bit too close to the bone," he said.

The owner and trainer had a heated discussion about More Joyous's fitness earlier at the race meeting before clashing again in the mounting yard just prior to the race.

"I wasn't happy. I was what Andrew Johns would call 'agitated'," he said.

"I would say drunk," Gai Waterhouse interjected.

Mr Singleton replied: "I had two to three beers before (the race) and as much as I could after."

Just before the adjournment of the inquiry, Gai Waterhouse had a final crack: "If Mr Singleton shut his mouth we wouldn't be here."

"But the mare still came second last," Mr Singleton replied.

"She is a seven-year-old. She's old - just like you," Waterhouse said.

News.com.au's Privacy Policy includes important information about our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information (including to provide you with targeted content and advertising based on your online activities). It explains that if you do not provide us with information we have requested from you, we may not be able to provide you with the goods and services you require. It also explains how you can access or seek correction of your personal information, how you can complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles and how we will deal with a complaint of that nature.

Comments on this story

pedro of sydney Posted at 9:39 AM May 07, 2013

remember fine cotton. The waterhouses can't be trusted.

CA Posted at 9:05 AM May 07, 2013

Where money and sport meet there is always some degree of trouble.
Horse racing and gambling has a long and interesting association, some t of which can at best be called questionable.

phil garde of sydney Posted at 7:51 AM May 07, 2013

Come on get real. Andrew Johns is a known drug abuser. Well he was, when playing football. Using the word great is so annoying. He should return all the awards he cheated his fellow footballers out of. Why is this swept under the carpet. Id rate the brothel away above Johns. Thats not saying much for him either.
John singleton is a bully and a lout. Gai as always is a lady and of course a great trainer.

A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites.